Endearing Shame

No one likes to feel embarrassed in a social situation, but studies suggest that others see embarrassment as a positive sign of character. Matthew Feinberg, a researcher at the University of California at Berkeley, and his colleagues gave people a personality test and videotaped them recounting an awkward event. Those who showed the most signs
of embarrassment, such as looking away or laughing nervously, scored highest in caring about others—and viewers judged highly embarrassed people to be far more moral than those with the least social anguish. Moreover, actors who were photographed with embarrassed expressions were seen as more appealing and trustworthy than others who appeared proud or neutral. That's because, like submissive behavior in animals, human embarrassment conveys interest in being accepted into the group, the researchers say.